‘Admirable Life Of Patriarch Saint Joseph’ by Venerable Mary of Agreda; Chapter III; ESPOUSALS OF THE CHASTE ST. JOSEPH WITH THE BLEESED VIRGIN; part I; pages 73-78
[Venerable Mary of Agreda – XVII Century AD; Agreda, Spain; Mystic; Writer; ‘Blue Nun’]“Chapter III ~ 8T. JOSEPH DISCOVERS THAT MARY IS ABOUT TO BECOME A MOTHER, WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO PENETRATE THE MYSTERY. HE ENDURES GREAT SUFFERINGS ON THIS ACCOUNT.
IT was about five months since the eternal Word had become incarnate in the chaste bosom of the Virgin Mary, when St. Joseph began to observe indications of it, and to entertain suspicions. It was the more apparent, because the proportions of her pure form were so perfect, that the least change was perceptible. Deeply concerned and anxious, St. Joseph, as he one day observed her coming forth from her oratory, perceived that it was no longer possible to doubt the testimony of his own eyes. The heart of the man of God was penetrated with profound sorrow, and he was unable to resist the harrowing reflections that tormented his spirit.
It may not be without utility or interest to notice some of these reflections, which increased the violence of his great affliction. In the first place, he entertained a most chaste and sincere love for his faithful spouse, to whom, since the commencement of their union, he had devoted all the tenderness of his heart. Besides, his desire to serve her was augmented from day to day by the unequalled holiness and attractive manners of our blessed Lady. Our saint, therefore, was impelled, by a desire natural to his love, to find a response to it on her part. The Lord so ordered it, that, from this same desire, the holy Joseph was still more careful to serve and respect our blessed Mistress.
Thus St. Joseph fulfilled with great zeal his obligations as a most faithful husband and guardian of the mystery which, as yet, was hidden from him. But the more assiduous he was to serve, to honor his spouse while bearing for her a love, so pure, chaste, holy, and just, the more eager was his desire that she should reciprocate his affection.
Nevertheless he did not disclose this internal conflict; either because of the respect produced by the humble majesty of his spouse, or because in witnessing the discreet deportment of Mary—her sweet converse, and her more than angelic purity—the revelation would have been too painful.
At the view of what was become so evident, he was lost in amazement. Still, though convinced, he would not allow his imagination to go beyond appearances. Being a just and holy man, and seeing the fact, he suspended his judgment without entering into the cause. What an example for us! It is most probable that if he had been convinced of the culpability of his wife, the violence of his grief would have put an end to his existence. In the second place, his reflections reminded him that he had had no agency in this condition which was but too apparent. Dishonor was inevitable when it should become known; and, as St. Joseph was of a generous and noble heart, this apprehension gave him great pain. Besides, he considered, with rare prudence, the affliction that their own infamy would bring upon them if the matter came to be divulged.
But that which caused the greatest grief of all to the holy spouse, was the fear that his wife would be stoned, according to the law which ordered this punishment; for he could not make himself an accomplice to hide the crime, if it existed. All these considerations pierced the heart of St. Joseph with the deepest grief, in which he found no consolation except in the irreproachable conduct of his spouse. Still, on the other hand, though appearances convinced him, he could neither find means of excuse, nor even dare to communicate the subject of his grief to any human being. Our saint was then like one environed by the sorrows of death, and he felt the force of the words ‘Jealousy is as cruel as hell.”
He would have sought some alleviation for his pains in spiritual consolation, but grief suspended the powers of his soul. If his reason inclined to follow the suspicions suggested by his senses, the reflections that he made on the tried holiness of his most wise and prudent spouse caused them to vanish like ice in the heat of the sun, or smoke before the wind. If he strove to _check the affections of his chaste love, it was impossible, since he found his spouse always more worthy of being loved. And although the truth was concealed from him, she had more power to attract, than the seeming deception of her infidelity to repel him. The sacred ties of love could not be rent asunder, because they reposed on the solid foundations of truth, reason, and justice.
Our saint did not then judge it expedient to declare his grief to his blessed spouse: added to this, the gravity, ever equal and divinely humble, which he saw in her, did not permit him to take this liberty; for, although he saw marks unequivocal, a conduct so pure and holy as hers could ill accord with infidelity, Such a fault could not in any manner he compatible with so much purity, holiness and discretion; nor with that assemblage of graces whose growth was each day more visible in the august Mary.
In these perplexities the saintly husband addressed himself to God in prayer. Placing himself in His presence, ‘Eternal God and my Lord,” he said, “my desires and my groanings are not hidden from Thy divine Majesty. I find myself struggling with violent agitations, I have given my heart to the spouse which I received from Thy hands, I have trusted in her purity, but the strange appearances which I discover in her cast me into the most afflicting perplexity.
It would be rash to think that she had been unfaithful and had offended Thee, seeing in her such great purity and so eminent a holiness. It is, nevertheless, impossible to deny the evidence of my senses, and sorrow must destroy me unless there be here some mystery that I have not discovered. Reason exculpates, but the senses condemn her. I see plainly that she conceals from me the cause of her condition. What shall I do? I suspend my judgment, ignorant of the cause of what I see. Receive, O God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, my sighs and my tears, as an acceptable sacrifice. I cannot believe that Mary has offended Thee; but, also, being her husband, I cannot presume the existence of any mystery of which I can be unworthy.”
Image: Guido Reni ~ ’Portrait of Saint Joseph’ Painting by Guido Reni dit The_Guide (1575-1642); ca. 1640
Music: ‘Joseph est bien marié’ - Boston Camerata
‘Joseph est bien marié’ = 'Joseph is happily married'
>>> youtube.com/watch?v=FFbneUGHfhA